Isle Of Jura Tops Exceptional Tattersalls Ascot March Sale
A tremendous one-day sale at the first Tattersalls Ascot sale of 2023 produced the highest-price ever given for a horse in training sold at the venue with JS Bloodstock / George Scott Racing going to £150,000 for the Godolphin-consigned once-raced ISLE OF JURA.
The draft from Godolphin produced the day’s top 14 prices, and the strong demand for the choice lots came primarily from trainers and owners sourcing horses to race at the big international Festival meetings.
Five of the Godolphin consignment sold for £100,000 or more contributing to a session turnover of £1,661,100, a record for a Tattersalls Ascot mixed sale.
Of ISLE OF JURA, a three-year-old gelding by New Approach, Jackson-Stops said: "He has been bought for an owner who already has horses with George.
“He is a big raw horse with loads of promise. He was green on his first run and he needs some time but he will get that – let’s hope he is as good as we want him to be. The mare has been amazing, all her runners have been rated 95+ and she has produced two Group 1 winners. If this horse is anything like his brothers, we will be ok."
The buyer added: "We had to go a bit further and spend more than we thought we'd have to."
Lot 100 PARLANDO
The second top price of £105,000 was split two ways – Lot 100 PARLANDO (Dubawi) was bought by trainer Ian Williams, while Pardu Wealth Stud, with trainer Jamie Osborne in charge of bidding, purchased Lot 105, the Sea The Moon gelding MOND.
PARLANDO was one of eight lots bought by the session’s leading buyer Williams, who also purchased YANTARNI (Lot 103) for £100,000. The West Midlands-based trainer was bidding online from Dubai where he is overseeing the final preparations for Enemy, who runs in the weekend’s Dubai Gold Cup.
On a What's App call from the Middle East, Williams said: "The eight have all been bought on spec – you can't win if you are not in and the first place you need to win is in the sale ring.
“They are all horses who I think will progress – they are nicely bred, have good form and are horses who can go on this summer in Europe and will then suit the Middle East next winter.
"I inspected the draft at Godolphin, they have been vetted and my assistant Angus Adams was at Ascot overseeing proceedings."
Of the online bidding process from overseas, Williams said: "The system has worked well and proved to be very effective. I also have to congratulate Tattersalls Ascot and Godolphin for putting on such a strong sale at this time of year."
Lot 105 MOND
Osborne had been underbidder on a couple of the previous lots from the Godolphin draft but was delighted with the successful purchase of MOND.
He said: "He has a fair amount of ability and has been bought for Greg and Lauren Bryce, who have horses with me and are keen to collect some horses who could potentially go to some nice meetings in Europe and run internationally.
"Hopefully, we can get him right and have some fun. We had vettings done in the week; this horse was our number one pick and we are delighted to get him."
Newmarket-based trainer TJ Kent spent £100,000 on COSMIC DESERT (Lot 104), a 91-rated son of New Approach, and said: “We liked him, he is for an overseas client and we are very happy with the purchase. Godolphin treats their horses exceptionally well, so you know you are buying horses who have been well looked after.”
Away from the Godolphin draft, the Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer and jockey Bradley Gibbs sold PURPLE AKI (Lot 91), winner of a Larkhill point-to-point bumper, for £32,000 to Brookhouse Racing, while the Shorn Hill Stables-consigned GWASH (Lot 90), winner of a four and five-year-olds maiden at Charm Park, was bought by Craig and Laura Buckingham for £31,000.
Matt Prior, Tattersalls Head of Sales, said: “Our thanks must go to Godolphin for sending such a superb draft of horses to the Tattersalls Ascot March Sale. All looked in great order and were a credit to the team; we are delighted that owners and trainers responded so well to the opportunity.
“The next Tattersalls Ascot Sale is on June 6.”